Valerian: Snow? Would you be willing to speak with me? Valerian: If you prefer, we can meet in a well-lit, public area. Valerian: I am no longer afflicted by the payments of that performance.
[ Around 9:30pm there will be a box that is gift wrapped and has Snow's name on it at Acidia's door with a small note reading:
let me know what you think! hopefully you'll be all better by morning if not already. Take care and thanks again.
The box is full of an assortment of sweet things, mostly assorted homemade chocolates and cookies, but there might be some cutely decorated flower cupcakes as well as a fruit tart, too. ]
[a small package is left at Acidia's door for Snow while he's out of the ship! it contains:
- a tiny automaton of a chick that can be charged via USB. when turned on it will move around on whatever surface he puts it on and pick up seeds or similarly tiny objects, 'swallowing' them into an inner compartment that Snow can empty and sort through later. it has some kind of mapping programmed into it so it can go around obstacles and turn around from ledges, similar to a roomba. - a new phone number and email where Snow can theoretically reach him if he ever wants to chat - a note: Hey, I've got something to keep chasing outside Port Manteau, so I won't be coming back aboard, at least for now. I'll see you again sometime, though, and you can get in touch with me if you ever wanna just talk to a friend. Good luck. -- Eriks]
And on the same note, it's probably to be expected, the way Snow's own hands wander as though recommitting the memory of Aster's arms, shoulders, chest to memory. Or rather, checking for any other potential wounds. Definitely. He's a smart boy, he can multitask making sure Aster feels as comfortable as possible.]
Sorry, if you want to be left alone I totally get it. I just wanted to make sure you were doing okay? You can respond to this whenever or not all it's totally cool. Just checking in.
[The house is not as familiar as it could be - after the passing of Cinth's mother, there was especially no reason to ever step foot inside, only ever bringing Cinth to his own home instead.
Not that Snow's at the doorstep, or even right next to it, at the moment. It's in view however, and he's content to leave it at that for the moment.]
...So? What were you thinking?
[He's got the poison prepared and tucked away safely in a secure container. As long as it's administered, one way or another, it should do the job.]
[ after pancakes and eggs and confrontations that aster was half-awake for, he's all too happy to get back to bed. he flops into an ungainly sprawl, pulling snow down with him before hitching the blankets over them both ]
In case you were worried or haven't spoken to him, I wanted to let you know everything is fine. With Gingham, I mean. But if you had a moment I wanted to ask for your help with something?
[Aster will be able to hear the sound of fabric shifting as it's removed or put on, footsteps around the room as he puts away his previous outfit in favor of whatever the heck he's in now.
And after all that, he'll be able to feel the bed sinking as Snow settles next to him again.]
You can open your eyes again.
[His outfit, if it can truly be called that, consists of a flowy halter top that dips low on his back, doing little to cover the teasingly translucent top and skirt in the same shade of green, the layers of the latter juuuuust stacked enough to keep him covered. The singular "tight" around his leg only encourages peeling back the layers, however.]
[ if snow manages to fall sleep, he'll wake alone. maybe that's a surprise, or maybe that isn't; maybe he'll remember the shifting of blankets and weight on the mattress as aster quietly left, at some point when night has turned to morning.
if he goes to investigate, or if he just heads out for breakfast, he'll find a boy parked in one of the seats near the kitchen. he's nursing a big (and strong) mug of coffee, holding it with one hand. with the other, he turns the page of one of those books of questions from the day before, eyebrows furrowed in concentration. he taps a few restless fingers against the chair's arm, frowning as he reads ]
[Snow doesn't come out until much, much later, when morning is soon to give way to afternoon. He still doesn't look particularly well-rested, but he's dressed and on his feet at least, even if he isn't settling down for breakfast.]
[ on day 302, snow will wake up to a small, wrapped box on the pillow beside his. the wrapping job is pretty clumsy, and the bow was tied earnestly, but both were clearly picked out in advance — elegant floral designs in his favorite colors.
inside the box is a ring, engraved with snowdrops and asters. in the pattern, the stems are all entangled — no one type of flower without the other.
there's also a note folded small enough to fit into the box, saying in a familiar scrawl: happy birthday ]
[It's new and surprising all in itself, though Snow doesn't think too hard on it when instead he could be sating his own desires for the physical, pressing himself flush against Aster as his mouth meets the other's, again and again.
It's only when he utters the softest moan that he very suddenly draws back, remembering that they are in fact in a public (if blessedly empty) space. But the effects are undeniable, from the tell-tale flush on his cheeks to the heavy breaths that he tries to calm even now.]
[ again and again, and it's so good. aster has no interest in slowing down, not when he can have the warmth of their bodies pressed together, their mouths busy with one another. when the anxieties of their reality can be pushed aside for raw want, and being wanted.
so there's the briefest moment of scalded rejection and surprise when snow pulls back...before he follows snow's gaze and. his ears go red. ]
Oh.
[ he's flushed and out of breath too, of course, but finds himself more satisfied than embarrassed as he looks back to snow. ]
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